Leonardo Da Vinci

to a great artist; painter,thinker, sculptor, architect, naturalist and technician.

LEONARDO DA VINCI 15.04.1452 - 02.05.1519

 

Head of a youth with an ivy wreath, about 1491-4

 

LEONARDO DA VINCI 15.04.1452 - 02.05.1519

When I heard that there is a exhibition at the National Gallery about Leonardo Da Vinci, there was no question that I had to go and see it. To my disappointment all tickets were sold out even before the 'great Event' took place. Luckily, I found out that the National Gallery kept some tickets and they will be available to purchase on the day. So after kewing up for some hours in the cold I was very fortunate to get my ticket....

The Virgin and Child wiht Saint Anne and the Infant Saint John the Baptist

about 1499-1500, charcoal heightend with white chalk on paper, mounted on canvas  

Purchased with a special grant and contributions from The Art Fund, The Pilgrim Trust, and through a public appeal organised by The Art Fund, 1962

A detail from the Virgin of the Rocks

Portrait of Cecillia Gallerani

The Virgin with the Infant Saint John adoring the Infant Christ accompanied by an angel about 1491-1508

(Oil on wood)

 

 

"The Lady with an Ermine"about 1489-90

(Oil on walnut)

Virgin and Child

 

'The Madonna Litta' about 1491-5

(Tempera on canvas, transferred from wood)

This was without a doubt the event of the century and it was absolutely worth to kew up for it!!!

Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Gallery 2011

unfortunately it was not permitted to do photographs at the exhibition, so I helped myself on the web to show and to capture some of my favourite displays.

'Bag' by Hendrik Kerstens 2007

without words

A strong Image does not need an explanation. It simply stands by itself.

Keira Knightley 2010

Sponge Day (Part 2)

 

Image from the book 'Brick Lane' by Monica Ali

Brick Lane is a street in London in the East End. Today, it is the heart of the city's Bangladeshi-Sylheti community and is known as "Banglatown" and of course, for it's many curry houses.  Brick Lane is the famous curry capital of the UK. At the weekend the streets are filled with hundreds of people who are enjoying the flare of being at a cool place and enjoying the famous markets around Brick Lane. (Upmarket, Backmarket- both are indoor markets and not to forget the Brick Lane Farmers Market) .

Also well known for several of the city's best known night clubs and as I may say so for a very good fish and 

chips shop called "Poppies Fish & Chips LTD".

 

But it is not just about curry.............

...as every nation keep their traditions so ...

Kalliopi Lemos

Navigating in the dark.......

Athens - Crete - London 2011

St. Pancras Church, London

 

In the vaulted, underground burial space of St. Pancras Church, London, amid an evocative sound installation, a sequence of three actual boats - found objects, stripped down to expose the raw wood - are filled with snakes and human figures made of steel and with steel sculptures of crows, near a hive space where white paper sculptures of bees hover in the air like migrating souls.

 

Sculptor, painter and installation artist Kalliopi Lemos was born on the Greek island of Oinousses, near Chicos, in 1951. She studied painting and printing at Bayam Shaw School of Art, University of the Arts London, Central Saint Martins, where she also pursued post-graduate studies. She studied the art of Ikebana for 15 years. She lives and works in London.

 

Sponge Day (Part 1)

After being briefed for our new Project I started my journey at Liverpool Street station. Following the signs, the crowds and my instincts up to Brick lane, 'the coolest place' to be in London.
Well, during daytime it seems all a bit crowded and not really spectacular. So I decided to get some indoor experience and absorb a bit 'art'.

I found at the "White Cube" the Exhibition 'The bent leg' of "Ellen Altfest" who is a New Yorker artist.

male armpit (Oil on canvas) by Ellen Altfest

 
The title seemed interesting but after seeing the displayed work I just wondered if the Title was the best of it all. Since the early human kind and by nature, we are all drawn and interested in each others sex. Much has changed in the last years and 'Voyeurism' is very well known and accepted by the broad public.  Art and Artists, using and expressing different meanings and Objects throught their work. The artistic freedom is a big key and it makes it a great way to show boundries. Whatsoever, if you step over the fine line it will turn into disgust.
Seeing bodyparts photographed or painted is nothing new, but how Ellen Altfest is exploring and showing the male body is definitely a contribution.




Kitty Kraus

Spiegellampe

Kitty Kraus is a german artistis who lives and works in Berlin. Her work is always pregmatic. She loves to display her work skillfully in a dramatic and poetic style. Working minimalistic and using industrial materials, she is showing us moments of fragility, with the use of mirrors and lightbulbes. The aesthetic of the simplicity is mesmerizing.

Spiegellampe

First day at Kingston University

Our first day

19th of September

It is not alway as easy as it looks like being a student. Escpecially when you have to start at a new school or class again. After surviving the "getting to know you" games which were mandatory we got a little rest at the cantine and started to feel a bit more comfortable and homely at our new surroundings.


There are lots of nice people around and I am looking forward to my time here at Kingston University.

My 5 Minutes Page

just give me 5 minutes ......

Getting a glimpse of the old Hollywood times. I must say that I miss the old times when they still shot movies at the studios in Hollywood. When MGM, Columbia and Warner Brother's were the big movie Producers and they created movie classics like: Gone with the wind, Psycho, Ben Hur, Wizard of Oz, High Noon and Casablanca. From the unforgettable black and white movies to the Technicolour movies. But maybe this is the reason that they remain glamarous in our minds....

My Oasis

www.idea-a-day.org

 

Wouldn't it be nice to have a Website or a link to 'bubbly' Websites like www.bubbly.org?

You could find everything about Ballons, Chewing gum, about bathing, personallity, drinks, ideas, colour, art, design, environment on this page

or

something like 'freak' www.freak.org You could get information and/or links about dancing, how to dress or not to dress, horror events, movies, character, appearance, music, style, art, envirnonment on them

or

'misplaced' www.misplaced.org which is related to find design, Items, Thoughts, dreams

or 

'recharged' www.getrecharged.org where you can find everything about why, how and where to relaxe and "recharge" pysically and mentally....

or

'Elan' www.get-elan.org which would be a website about power, energy. How to get it and what can help you. It will also show powerful Pictures or/and Elements

Well, this are just some thoughts but it would be nice to have them..................

Quirky websites

If you like quirky websites you should have a look to them:

1. http://www.beonlineb.com/
2. http://www.bio-bak.nl/
3. http://www.vectorpark.com/
4. http://www.donniedarkofilm.com
5. http://www.catsper1.com/

there is also this one:

http://www.simonpanrucker.com/beans.swf

Inspiring book

Graphic - Inside the Sketchbooks of the world's great Graphic Designers

(Steven Heller & Lita Talarico)

This book inspired me as I always wanted to see into a designers Sketchbook. And to see the creative working process of a successful designer and to get some guidelines. Guidelines on how to get from an initial idea into the real designing process. What would be appropriate to put into a sketchbook.? What does it need and what are the steps in the creative process. This book is visual and informative and full of influences.

A piece of Design

Summer encounter
I simply love this bracelet as I got it as a present from a friend of mine.

bracelet

I love about it:                   the shape as it is simple

                                       the colour silver 

                                       the material as it is light

                                       the design as it is variable to wear

                                       to have another accessory as a girl can't have enough 

                                       the thought of somebody makes you a present

                                       that somebody knows your likings

V&A

just a glimpse what you can see at the exhibition at the V& A:

 

exhibition about glass design

This railing is an example of great design. It is a beautiful piece of art and also functional. Glass as a material is very variable in his use; a piece of art by itself. It is fantastic and incredible what you can all do out of glass. It is not just a container for wine or any drinks we are having daily.

Go to the V&A Website to get more information:

 

www.vam.co.uk

Designers Part 1

Georgio Armani


This is one of my favourite Designers. His Biography and success speaks for itself. Even if I am not agreeing with some aspects of the fashion industry I am paying respect to somebody who achieved so much in his life and is so focused in his profession. You need to be born with a certain desire or otherwise you would'nt succeed in what you are doing. He is proofing that 'Elegance is never out'.

Georgia Armani is currently designing on his EA7 collection autum/winter 2011. This new Collection will offer ergonomic Garments with breathable, absorbent and water repellent qualities, in a choice of natural fibres and technical fabrics.

If you are interested in getting more information about this fantastic designer who is still under the 'top 10' designers of the world, please also look under following link:

www.armani.com

 http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/giorgioarmani.html

Wilhelm Busch Mühle

Max & Moritz

I spend my summer vacation back home in Germany. While I was there I accidently found this little treasure spot. Not far from where I grow up, is this lovely museum which is dedicated to the art and history of 'bread-making and baking'. The museum is placed next to the very famous Mill known from the stories about Max & Moritz; told by Wilhelm Busch. As I grew up with the Max & Moritz stories I had to go and see the original places where the writer invented these stories. Inside the museum you can see lots of equipment which were used in the past. There is lots of Information displayed and there is a lovely botanic garden with herbs and of course different types of wheat. You can see that the people dedicated lot of love into this historical museum.

And this was the last strike........

Designers Part 3

Kay and Gerda

Christian Birmingham

Illustrator

The Snow Queen

Christian Birmingham is an acclaimed british Illustrator. His technique and the way he is using coulours in his Illustrations, reminds me of the old Masters.

He has the ability to create Illustrations which are stunning and evocative at the same time. It seems like they are from another time.

Kay in the Snow Queen's Palace

Christian Birminham Illustrated many more Children Books and is still working as an Illustrator. These are just a tiny selection of his beautiful work. He got some work displayed at the Galleria Sant'Eufemia (Giudecca, Venice) exhibition. Follow the Weblink to see for yourself:

http://christianbirmingham.com/

Designers Part 2

A great Illustrator

Charles Santore

Charles Santore's work as an illustrator is celebrated and diverse. Not only has he illustrated for top advertising agencies and leading magazines, his artwork is also included in such distingished collections as the Museum of Art in New York, Brandywine River Museum in Pennsylvania, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. Since 1986 Santore added children's book illustration to his broad body of work, including his editions of such classics as Aesop's Fables, The Fox & The Rooster, The Little Mermaid and Snow White. Santore has received numerous awards and recognition for his artistic excellence, both for his past achievements in the magazine and advertising fields and for his children's books, such as the Society of Illustrators Award of Excellence, the prestigious Hamilton King Award, and the Alumni Award of the Philadelphia College of Art.

The Wizard of Oz

The little Mermaid

Charles Santore was born in Philadelphia in 1935. He attended the Museum School of Art (now the University of Arts), where he studied Illustration. After graduating in 1956 and serving in the Army he returned to Philadelphia and worked in a small art studio where he began freelancing and doing small spot drawings for art services and advertising agencies. Soon Santore began getting assignments from the N. W. Ayer Agency, the second largest agency in the world at the time. He first editorial assignment was for the old Saturday Evening Post headquartered in Philadelphia.

Snow White and the seven Dwarfs

Two of his illustrations are currently part of a traveling exhibition entitled "Myth, Magic and Mystery. One Hundred Years of American Children's Book Illustrations." His awards include next to the Hamilton King Award from the New York Society of Illustrators, a gold medal from the New York Society of Publication Designers, and an "Edgar" from the Mystery Writers of America.

At present Charles Santore is working on a new project: A new, illustrated version of Margery William's children classic "The Velveteen Rabbit." The anticipated publication date is 2013.

www.charlessantore.com